Best Careers: Emergency Management Specialist

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I'm currently in school right now getting my BA in Emergency and Disaster Management with a certificate in Homeland Security. Every single aspect of this job makes me giddy with excitement. I plan to do 1 internship during my undergrad degree and 1 internship during my grad degree (which will be in Emergency and Disaster Management with a certificate in Weapons of Mass Destruction Preparedness). I'm hoping the combination of experience and the degrees will give me an edge when I'm applying for an actual job.

Natalie of AZ 12:21AM May 19, 2013

I'm an EM major at school right now, but I'm switching it to something else, not because I don't like it, but I honestly think you will need a solid foundation in something before learning how to best protect it from damages of any kind. I'm in an internship right now, and though it is an entry-level position, I still don't know anything at all about what they are talking about. They are right in saying that it will be in great demand, and the pay is also very truthful. However, they are also very correct in saying that the majority of the time, it is a very low-key, not stressful desk job life. For someone coming right out of college, this might just drive you crazy, like it was starting to do for me. However, I will say again, this is only my opinion.

DA of CT 3:54PM February 02, 2013

The pay is never going to be outstanding, but there are other avenues you can pursue as well... I get paid a ton more than the 14/ 17hr , minimal benefits etc.
I work for a private company and I was hired with no experience. I came on as a contract employee during Haiti and shortly after I was hired full- time. Since then I've responded to disasters all over the world including the Arctic as a first responder.
Now working on my sociology degree followed by masters in Emergency Disaster Management.
For those of you still searching, we aren't in need of full- time employees but we hire contract employees all over the world. Currently we have about 1500 worldwide. We are hoping to double that number within the next year and a half. Depending where we are activated (what part of the world) and how large the incident is, we'd contact you at the time of the incident and see if you are available for 2 to 3 weeks to work with us. You would be paid a daily rate (commensurate with the position we bring you in for on that partcular deployment), plus a per- diem. Hotels are covered, flights are covered. You are required to furnish your own up to date passport and cover whatever shots are required.
No requirements on where you live. We will fly you out from your nearest airport.
It is a great way to earn the experience all of you are speaking of, on an international level and be involved in some possible big events in the process.
Example: In Haiti, we were there for close to 4 months after the earthquake and had nearly 400 team members (contract employees) cycling through every two weeks.
If anyone is interested check out www.kenyoninternational.com to find out more and fill out an application. Look up Team Members.
This last year was slow in regards to disasters, but in this field, sometimes they are slow, and other years we have deployed back to back with more than one happening at the same time.
I have only provided some very basic information for you here. Check us out at the website i listed if you would like to know more. We are the oldest and most well known private disaster company in the world.

DisasterGuy of TX 5:08PM November 13, 2012

What a load of malarkey on the salary. Average salaries I've seen are $14 - $17 / hr, minimal benefits and no overtime, even when you're in an Emergency Operations Center for 7 days straight. Thankless, underpaid career.

Do not wish to state of MD 2:11PM November 08, 2012

As far as emergency management job search goes, I would suggest looking into universities and colleges in your area. A lot of them are getting Emergency Management in Higher Education grants from Department of Education, and therefore are looking to hire emergency management specialists or simply people interested in emergency management. That's how I got my current job in one of the universities in Massachusetts. The only downside is that the grants usually last only for 2 years, so you are not guaranteed a job past that time. But I think it's a good way to get your foot in the door and gain some experience.

Anna of MA 1:23PM February 14, 2012

Thank you for this article, it gives me hope. I obtained my MS in Public Safety Emergency Management in 2007, but with no actual experience except through exposure as a records clerk for 10 1/2 year at a law enforcement agency no one believes I'm capable to learn before an incident happens the nuts and bolts of their agency. I'm now in school earning my Psy.D online and looking forward to my practicuum...maybe that will help.

Taylor Ville of UT 10:44AM December 17, 2011

Meant to type "on a regular basis" in my comment below......

David G. of IL 9:09PM September 03, 2011

DuPage County, Illinois has a summer internship program as a part of their emergency management program. The commenter who suggested that emergency managers "sit around" and only work during a once in ten or fifty year period is way off-base. The county in which I live has had two presidential disaster declarations within the past year. We have also sent emergency management coordinators across the state to provide assistance during other disasters. Furthermore, emergency operations plans need to be updated and tested on a regularly basis. Coordinating this for a county and for the multiple municipalities within a county is a full time job. Safety is not an accident. It takes hard work of committed professionals to ensure that entities are effectively able to mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.

David G. of IL 9:06PM September 03, 2011

@Christie Ray. I also am looking for disaster/emergency management opportunities in Delaware but cant seem to find much. Would you be willing to share what you have found/learned? I would greatly appreciate any help or information anyone has to offer!

Matt of DE 11:43AM August 08, 2011

For all of you guys looking for Emergency Management Internships its best to look at county government and major city government. Every state is mandated to have an emergency management agency. At most local levels of government it typically is a fire or police employee. If you are willing to leave the state Illinois is pretty progressive for Emergency Management. You can even contact the group IESMA and they will assist you in getting an internship in Illinois.
Just a few other things to clear up too. It is required by Federal Law for all levels of government to be NIMS compliant. Depending on the level of responsibility an employee has, it is required to have various training (ICS 100 & ICS 200, NIMS 700 and NIMS 800 for entry level position, and ICS 300 & ICS 400 for command level staff. The first four classes should be taken before you even begin to apply since they are free on FEMA.
@Jen some of the places you are applying to may be seeing you more as a Public Health Professional (Emergency Management at the fed level=FEMA, Public Health= CDC). Although most EM departments could certainly use your background typically they look for first responder backgrounds or emerging emergency management degrees.
@Gator that is something that I hear quite often. However, most people are not paid that much unless they work for a large county or large city. Most smaller jurisdictions are part time or have their fire or police chief handle it. However, that becomes a problem for larger jurisdictions and when emergencies occur. If an emergency occurs you don't typically want to steal from peter to pay paul (take away from fire or police response and bring them to planning). The ideas and concepts behind this are to look at the big picture and make sure all of the various departments that are under the umbrella of that jurisdiction. For example any given disaster could include your fire, police, emergency medical services, public works, elected officials, public health and many other agencies not under your jurisdiction (volunteers, non-for-profits, major utilities, hazardous facilities). And although you may still believe that a small contingent of your fire fighters or police can complete those objectives trust me the duties they were hired to do will suffer. Most disaster are not over in a day, a week or even a month. Federal reimbursement that we are charged with obtaining if it is available for a disaster easily enters the millions of dollars that will assist local residents and government agencies (and in a time of tight budget constraints it is fiscally irresponsible to not devote resources previous to the disaster to ensure this goal can be achieved). What I am trying to say is that the intricacies of various aspects of the job aren't known unless you see it up front.

Emer Manager of IL 5:50PM March 02, 2011